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United States Patent |
5,043,772
|
Yamazaki
|
August 27, 1991
|
Semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device
Abstract
A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device including a conductive
substrate or a first conductive layer formed on the substrate, a
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member is disposed on the
conductive substrate or the conductive layer, the non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member having at least one intrinsic,
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, and a second conductive layer is
disposed on the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member. The
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains sodium and
oxygen in very low concentrations where each concentration is
5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
Inventors:
|
Yamazaki; Shunpei (Tokyo, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. (Kanagawa, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
860441 |
Filed:
|
May 7, 1986 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| May 07, 1985[JP] | 60-96391 |
| May 07, 1985[JP] | 60-96392 |
Current U.S. Class: |
257/53; 136/258; 257/55; 257/56; 257/E21.101; 257/E31.048; 257/E31.062 |
Intern'l Class: |
H01L 045/00; H01L 027/12 |
Field of Search: |
136/258 AM
357/30,2,63,64,4
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4068020 | Jan., 1978 | Reuschel | 357/63.
|
4510344 | Apr., 1985 | Berman | 357/30.
|
4591892 | May., 1986 | Yamazaki | 357/63.
|
4667214 | May., 1987 | Sekimura et al. | 357/2.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2130008 | May., 1984 | GB | 357/2.
|
Other References
Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 68 (1984), pp. 167-174, N. Holl.,
Amster., "Isomerization Model . . . a-Si:H".
|
Primary Examiner: Jackson, Jr.; Jerome
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sixbey, Friedman, Leedom & Ferguson
Parent Case Text
RELATED PATENTS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,717
(filed Nov. 22, 1985 and assigned Ser. No. 800,694), this patent being
assigned to the assignee of this application. Moreover, this application
is related to U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,892 (filed Aug. 22, 1983 and assigned
Ser. No. 525.459), this patent also being assigned to the assignee of this
application.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device, comprising:
a conductive substrate or a first conductive layer formed on a further
substrate;
a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member on the conductive substrate
or the first conductive layer and having at least one intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer; and
a second conductive layer formed on the non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer member;
wherein the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains
sodium in a low concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or
less and oxygen in a low concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18
atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
2. A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device, comprising:
an insulating substrate having formed thereon first and second conductive
layers; and
a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member formed on the substrate to
cover the first conductive layer and having at least one intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer;
wherein the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member contains sodium in a low
concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less and oxygen
in a low concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
3. A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device, comprising:
a insulating substrate;
a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member on the substrate and having
at least one intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer; and first
and second conductive layer formed on the non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer member;
wherein the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member contains sodium in a low
concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less and oxygen
in a low concentration of only 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
4. A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device according to claim
1, 2, or 3 wherein the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of
the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member is formed principally of
silicon or germanium.
5. A semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device according to any one
of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer of the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member contains
hydrogen or a halogen as a recombination center neutralizer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvement in or relating to a
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device which has at least a
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member having at least one
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore there have been proposed a variety of semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive devices of the type that have at least one
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member having at least one
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer.
In the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device of such a
structure, the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer presents
photoconductivity corresponding to the intensity of incident light.
Usually, the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains
hydrogen or a halogen as a recombination center neutralizer for
neutralization of recombination centers which would otherwise exist in
large quantities since the I-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
is formed of a non-single-crystal semiconductor. This prevents the
photo-sensitivity of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
from being lowered by recombination centers.
The photo-sensitivity of the conventional semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device of this kind is very low and readily
changes with intensity of incident light or temperature.
As a result of various experiments, the present inventor has found that one
of the reasons for the low photo-sensitivity and its instability is that
in the case where the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of
the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member is formed inevitably
containing sodium as an impurity, the sodium content is as large as
10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more.
Moreover, the present inventor has found that such a large sodium content
lowers the photosensitivity of the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device and gives rise to the instability of
the photo-sensitivity for the following reason:
In a case where the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
contains sodium in as high a concentration as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or
more, a large number of clusters of sodium are created in the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer and these clusters of sodium serve
as recombination centers of photo carriers. Accordingly, when the sodium
content is large as mentioned above, the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer contains a number of recombination centers of photo
carriers which are not neutralized by a recombination center neutralizer.
Consequently, photo carriers which are generated by the incidence of light
in the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer are recombined
with the recombination centers, resulting in a heavy loss of the photo
carriers. Further, the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer,
when containing sodium, creates dangling bonds of sodium, which serve as
donor centers. In the case where the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer contains sodium in as high a concentration as
10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, it contains many dangling bonds of
sodium acting as donor centers. In this case, the center level of the
energy band in the widthwise direction thereof in the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer relatively greatly deviates further
to the valence band than the Fermi level. Accordingly, the
photosensitivity of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
depending upon the intensity of light is very low and changes with the
intensity of the incident light or temperature. Further, the diffusion
length of holes of the photo carriers in the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer is short.
Moreover, the sodium contained in the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer is combined with the material forming the layer. For
instance, when the layer is formed of silicon, it has a combination
expressed by the general formula Si-Na-Si. Accordingly, when the sodium
content is as large as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, the layer
contains the combination of the material forming the layer and the sodium
in large quantities.
The combination of the material forming the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer and the sodium contained therein is decomposed by the
incident light to create in the layer dangling bonds of the material
forming it and dangling bonds of the sodium.
Therefore, in the case where the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer contains sodium in as high a concentration as 10.sup.20
atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, the dangling bonds of the material forming the
layer and the dangling bonds of sodium which are generated in the layer,
will be greatly increased by the incident light. In such a case, the
dangling bonds of the material forming the layer act as recombination
centers of the photo carriers, and the loss of the photo carriers
generated in the layer increases. As the dangling bonds of the sodium
increase, the center level of the energy band in the widthwise direction
thereof, which has greatly deviated further to the valence band than the
Fermi level, further deviates toward the valence band correspondingly,
resulting in marked reduction of the photo carrier generating efficiency
of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer. Also the
diffusion length of holes of the photo carriers in the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is further reduced, markedly
raising the dark conductivity of the layer.
In a state in which the photocarrier generating efficiency of the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer has thus been lowered and the loss
of the photo carriers in the layer and the dark conductivity of the layer
have thus been increased, if the layer is heated, the dangling bonds of
the material forming the layer and the dangling bonds of sodium, generated
in large quantities in the layer, will be partly recombined with each
other to re-form the combination of the material forming the layer and the
sodium. As a result, both the dangling bonds of the material forming the
layer and the sodium content will be decreased. In the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, however, the dangling bonds of the
material forming the layer and the dangling bonds of sodium still remain
in large quantities. Consequently, the photo carrier generating efficiency
of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is very low to
impose a loss on the photo carriers in the layer, and the dark
conductivity of the layer is extremely high. In addition, the photo
carrier generating efficiency, the photoconductivity, the loss of photo
carriers and the dark conductivity of the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer, and accordingly the photo-sensitivity of the layer
largely differ before and after heating.
The above is the reason found by the present inventor for which the
photo-sensitivity of the conventional semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device is low and readily varies with the
intensity of incident light or temperature when the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains sodium in as high a
concentration as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more. Further, the present
inventor has found that also when the I-type non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer contains oxygen in as high a concentration as
10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, the photo-sensitivity of the
conventional semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device is very low
and fluctuates with the intensity with the incidence light or temperature
for the following reason:
When the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains oxygen
in as high a concentration as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 as referred to
previously, the layer forms therein a number of clusters of oxygen. The
clusters of oxygen act as combination centers of photo carriers as is the
case with the clusters of sodium. Further, the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, when containing oxygen in as high
a concentration as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3, contains dangling bonds of
oxygen acting as donor centers and the combination of the material forming
the layer and oxygen in large quantities. The combination of the material
forming the layer and oxygen is decomposed by the incident light to create
in the layer dangling bonds of the material forming it and dangling bonds
of the oxygen. If the layer is heated, the dangling bonds of the material
forming the layer and the dangling bonds of oxygen will be decreased in
small quantities but remain in the layer in large quantities.
The above is the reason found by the present inventor for which the
photo-sensitivity of the conventional semiconductor photoelectric
conversion device is very low and varies with the intensity of the
incident light or temperature when the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer contains oxygen in as high a concentration as
10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more.
Moreover, the present inventor has found that when the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains sodium and oxygen each in
as high a concentration as 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, too, the
photo-sensitivity of the conventional semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device is very low and varies with the
intensity of the incident light or temperature. The reason therefor will
be apparent from the previous discussions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel
seimconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device which is provided with
at least a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member having at least
one intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer and whose
photo-sensitivity is far higher and much less variable with the intensity
of incident light or temperature than that of the conventional
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive devices of the abovesaid
construction.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, even if the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of the non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member is inevitably formed containing sodium singly,
or sodium and oxygen as impurities, the sodium or sodium and oxygen
contents are each as low as 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
Therefore, the photo-sensitivity of the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device of the present invention is far higher
and much less variable with the intensity of incident light or temperature
than is conventional for the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive
devices of this kind.
For the following reason ascertained by the present inventor for the first
time, the photo-electrically-sensitive device of the present invention in
the case of the sodium content being 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or
less is far higher and much less variable with the intensity of the
incident light or temperature than the photo-sensitivity of the
conventional photo-electrically-sensitive device in the case of the sodium
content being 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more as described previously.
When the sodium content of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer is 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less, there is formed in the
layer substantially no or a very small number of clusters of sodium which
act as recombination centers of photo carriers. Accordingly, the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer has substantially no or a very
small number of recombination centers of photo carriers based on sodium.
This means that substantially no or a very small or loss is imposed on the
photo carriers that are created in the I-type non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer.
With the above sodium content in the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer, the number of dangling bonds of sodium contained in
the layer is very small, even if contained. In this instance, the center
level of the energy band in the widthwise direction of the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer hardly deviates from the Fermi
level and even if it deviates, the amount of deviation is very small.
Consequently, the photo carrier generating efficiency is far higher than
is obtainable with the conventional semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device in which the sodium content of the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is 10.sup.20
atoms/cm.sup.3 or more, and the dark conductivity of the layer is far
lower than in the case of the prior art device.
Further, when the sodium content in the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer is 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less, even if
the layer contains combinations of the material forming the layer and the
sodium, the number of such combinations is very small. Accordingly,
dangling bonds of the material forming the layer and sodium are not
substantially formed by the light irradiation of the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device and, even if they are formed, their
numbers are very small. Moreover, even if the device is heated, the
dangling bonds of the layer material and the sodium will not increase. The
photo carrier generating efficiency, the photo conductivity and the dark
conductivity and accordingly the photo-sensitivity of the layer will
remain substantially unchanged before and after irradiation by light and
after heating.
For the reason given above, when the sodium content in the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3
or less, the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device of the
present invention exhibits a far higher and stable photosensitivity than
the conventional semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device in
which the sodium content in the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor
layer is 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more.
For the same reasons as mentioned above, the photo-sensitivity of the
photo-electrically-sensitive device of the present invention in the case
of the oxygen content being 5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less is
far higher and much less variable with the intensity of incident light or
temperature than the photo-sensitivity of the photo-electrically-sensitive
device in the case of the oxygen content being 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or
more as described previously. Therefore, no detail description will be
given thereof.
Additionally, the reason for which the photo-sensitivity of the
photo-electrically-sensitive device in the case of the sodium and oxygen
contents each being 5.times.10.sup.15 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less is far higher
and much less variable with the intensity of incident light or temperature
than the photo-sensitivity of the photo-electrically-sensitive device in
the case of the sodium and oxygen contents each being 10.sup.20
atoms/cm.sup.3 or more as referred to previously is the same reason as
mentioned above. Therefore, no detail description will be given thereof.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become
more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views respectively
illustrating first, second, third and fourth embodiments of a
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device to which the present
invention is applicable.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the distribution of sodium in the depthwise
direction of the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of a
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member in the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, using
different kinds of substrates;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing variations in the photo-sensitivity of the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of the non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member in the semiconductor
photoelectrically-sensitive devices depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 when the
layer was irradiated by light and then heated, using different kinds of
substrates;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing variations in rated quantum efficiency with
respect to the wavelength of incident light in the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive devices depicted in FIGS. 3 to 4 when they
were irradiated by light and then heated; and
FIG. 8 is a diagram, similar to FIG. 7, showing variation in rated quantum
efficiency in a conventional semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive
device which is seemingly identical in construction with the devices shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate first, second, third and fourth embodiments
of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive devices to which the
present invention is applicable.
The first embodiment of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive
device shown in FIG. 1 has such a construction as follows:
A light transparent insulating substrate 1 has conductive layer 2 and 3 of,
for example, tin oxide. The light transparent substrate 1 is made of
glass, fused quartz, synthetic quartz, or the like.
On the light transparent substrate 1 is formed a non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member 4. The non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
member 4 has an intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5
containing hydrogen or a halogen as recombination center neutralizer. The
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 is formed of silicon
(Si), germanium (Ge), Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x, or the like. The layer 5 has a
thickness of, for example, 0.5 .mu.m.
The intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 making up the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is formed by a CVD method
which does not employ a glow discharge technique, or a plasma CVD method
which employs the glow discharge technique.
The second embodiment of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive
device shown in FIG. 2 has such a construction as follows:
The second embodiment of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive
device has the same structure as does the first embodiment of the
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device shown in FIG. 1 except
that the conductive layers 2 and 4 are formed on the non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member 4. Therefore, no detailed description will be
repeated.
The third embodiment of the semiconductor photoelectric conversion device
shown in FIG. 3 has such a construction as follows:
A light transparent conductive layer 12 of tin oxide is formed, for
example, by vacuum deposition on an insulating and light transparent
substrate 1 of glass, fused quartz, synthetic quartz, or the like. On the
conductive layer 12 is formed a lead 13 thereof.
On the light transparent conductive layer 12 is formed a non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member 4. The non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
member 4 is formed by a sequential lamination of, for instance, a p-type
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 14, an intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer 5 containing hydrogen or a halogen as recombination
center neutralizer, and an N-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
16. Accordingly, the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 has
one intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 and has formed
therein on PIN junction. In this case, the P-type non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer 14 is formed of silicon (Si), Si.sub.x C.sub.1-x
(0<x<1, where x=0.8, for instance), germanium (Ge) or the like, and the
layer 14 is, for instance, 100 .ANG.thick. When the P-type
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 14 is formed of silicon or Si.sub.x
C.sub.1-x, the I-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 is formed
of silicon or Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x, and when the layer 14 is formed of
germanium, the layer 5 is also formed germanium. The layer 5 has a
thickness of, for example, 0.5 .mu.m. Further, when the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 is formed of silicon or Si.sub.2
Ge.sub.1-x, the N-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 16 is formed
of silicon or Si.sub.x C.sub.1-x (x=0.9, for example), and when the layer
5 is formed of germanium or Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x, the layer 16 is also
formed of germanium or Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x. The N-type non-single crystal
semiconductor layer 16 is, for example, 200 .ANG.in thickness.
The non-single-crystal semiconductor layers 14, 5 and 16 making up the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 are successively formed by
the CVD method which does not employ the glow discharge technique, or a
plasma CVD method which employs the glow discharge technique.
On the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is formed, for
example, by vacuum deposition on a reflecting conductive layer 17 as of
aluminum (A1).
The fourth embodiment of the semiconductor photoelectric conversion device
shown in FIG. 4 has such a construction as follows:
On a reflecting conductive substrate 21 as of stainless steel is formed the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 as is the case with the
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device shown in FIG. 3.
The non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is formed by a
sequential lamination of the P-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
14, the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 containing
hydrogen or a halogen as a recombination center neutralizer and the P-type
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 16 as is the case with the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 in FIG. 3. Accordingly,
the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 has one intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 and has formed therein one PIN
junction as is the case with the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer
member 4 in FIG. 3. The non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 14, 5 and
16 are also formed by such a CVD method as mentioned above.
On the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is formed, for
instance, by vacuum deposition a light transparent conductive layer 22 as
of indium oxide containing tin oxide, which corresponds to the conductive
layer 12 in FIG. 3.
Further, a conductive layer 23 for external connection is formed on the
conductive layer 23.
The first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are apparently
identical in construction with a known semiconductor photo detector. The
third and fourth embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 are apparently identical in
construction with known semiconductor photoelectric conversion devices.
With each of the structures of the semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when light 8
impinges on the device from the outside, the non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer member 4 become conductive. Accordingly, if a load is
connected across the conductive layer 2 and 3 through a power supply (not
shown), power is supplied to the load.
With the structure of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device
shown in FIG. 3, when light 8 impinges on the device from the outside of
the substrate 11, it reaches the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer 5 of the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member
4, creating therein photo carriers. Accordingly, if a load is connected
across the light transparent conductive layer 12 and the reflecting
conductive layer 17, power is supplied to the load.
With the structure of the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device
of FIG. 4, the light 8 incident to the light transparent conductive layer
22 reaches the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 to thereby generate
therein photocarriers as is the case with the device shown in FIG. 3.
Accordingly, if a load is connected across the reflecting conductive
substrate 21 and the light transparent conductive layer 22, power is
supplied to the load.
Where the transparent substrate 1 is an ordinary glass substrate, it
contains sodium in large quantities; therefore, the intrinsic
non-single-crystal layer 5 of the non-single-crystal layer member 4 formed
by the CVD method on the substrate 1 inevitably contains sodium in large
quantities. The same is true of the case where the substrate 1 is made of
fused quartz as well. In this instance, however, since the sodium content
in the substrate 1 is smaller than in the case of ordinary glass, the
sodium content in the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is
smaller than in the case of the substrate of the ordinary glass. It is to
be noted that, when the substrate 1 is made of synthetic quartz, since its
sodium content is very small, the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer formed thereon contains a very small amount of sodium.
Furthermore, when the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of
the semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive device depicted in FIG. 1,
2, 3, or 4 is deposited by the CVD process, if sodium components stick to
the inner walls of a reaction chamber used therefor (the substrate, the
substrate holder and so on), the intrinsic layer 5 will inevitably contain
sodium in large quantity.
When the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is formed of silicon by
the CVD method using, for example, silane (SiH.sub.4) gas as a
semiconductor material gas, it inevitably contains oxygen. The reason is
that it is extremely difficult to remove oxygen from the silane gas when
it is prepared. Incidentally, commercially available silane gas of 99.99%
purity usually contains oxygen about 0.1 ppm in the form of a simple
substance (O.sub.2) and about 3 ppm in the form of water (H.sub.2 O),
carbon about 5 ppm in the form of methane (CH.sub.4) and about 0.1 ppm in
the form of ethane (C.sub.2 H.sub.6), ethylene (C.sub.2 H.sub.4), propane
(C.sub.3 H.sub.8) and propylene (C.sub.3 H.sub.6) and phosphorus about 0.1
ppm in the form of phosphine (PH.sub.3).
Further, when the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member 3 is formed of germanium
by the CVD method using, for example, german (GeH.sub.4) gas as the
semiconductor material gas, the layer 5 inevitably contains oxygen because
it is extremely difficult, in practice, to remove it from the german gas
when it is prepared.
Moreover, when the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of
the non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member 3 is formed of
Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x by the CVD method using, as the semiconductor material
gas, a mixture of silane and german gases, the layer 5 inevitably contains
oxygen because it is extremely difficult, in practice, to prepare the
silane and germane gases with substantially no oxygen content.
In the conventional photoelectric device similar to those of FIGS. 1 to 2,
the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 contains sodium and oxygen
each in a high concentration exceeding 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3.
In contrast thereto, according to the present invention, even if the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 of the
non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member 4 inevitably contains
sodium and oxygen, the sodium and oxygen contents are each only
5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
The intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer with such a small
sodium content can be formed by pretreating or cleaning the reaction
chamber for removing therefrom sodium and by using a substrate containing
only a negligibly small amount of sodium. If the sodium content in the
substrate is relatively large, it is necessary only to pretreat or clean
the substrate and the substrate holder for removing the sodium. The
removal of sodium from the reaction chamber can be achieved in such a
manner as follows: First, gas containing a chloride, for example, a gas
mixture of oxygen and hydrogen chloride, is introduced into the reaction
chamber and then the reaction chamber is heated at, for instance, about
1150.degree. C. so that the gas reacts with the sodium to render it into
NaCl gas. Thereafter, the reaction chamber is sufficiently evacuated.
The removal of sodium from the substrate and the substrate holder can be
attained by the same method as described above, after placing them in the
reaction chamber.
The intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 with a small oxygen
content can be formed by using, as the semiconductor material gas for
forming the layer of silicon through the CVD method as mentioned above,
silane gas which is obtained by passing raw silane gas of high purity
through a passage in which is placed a molecular sieve having a mesh
diameter of 2.7 to 4.65 A or zeolite having the same pore diameter so that
the oxygen content of the silane gas may be reduced to substantially zero
or negligibly small. The reason for which such silane gas with practically
no or a negligibly small amount of oxygen can be obtained from the raw
silane gas through use of the molecular sieve or zeolite, is as follows:
The effective molecular diameter of the silane is larger than 4.65 A and
when oxygen is contained as of O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O in the raw silane gas
as referred to previously, their molecular diameters are in the range of
from 2.7 to 4.65 A, so that the silane cannot pass through the meshes of
the molecular sieve or the pores of the zeolite and hence is not adsorbed
on the molecular sieve or zeolite, whereas the oxygen and water contained
in the raw silane gas pass through the meshes of the molecular sieve or
the pores of the zeolite and are effectively adsorbed thereon.
The oxygen content of such silane gas can be further reduced by passing it
through a passage in which a deoxidizing agent is placed. By using thus
obtained silane gas, the oxygen content of the intrinsic
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 can be further reduced.
According to the present invention, the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer 5 contains sodium in a low concentration of
5.times.10.sup.18 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less and oxygen in a low concentration
of 5.times.10.sup.15 atoms/cm.sup.3 or less.
Therefore, according to the embodiments of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4, the photo-sensitivity of the intrinsic non-single-crystal
semiconductor layer 5 is higher than the photo-sensitivity of the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer of the conventional
photo-electrically-sensitive device which contains each of sodium and
oxygen in a high concentration of 10.sup.20 atoms/cm.sup.3 or more.
FIGS. 5 to 8 show the above.
That is to say, when the intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5
of the non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member 4 is deposited on an
ordinary glass substrate of a large sodium content through the CVD method
in the reaction chamber from which sodium has been removed according to
the present invention, if the substrate has not been cleaned for removing
sodium as referred to above, then sodium will be distributed in the
intrinsic non-single-crystal semiconductor layer 5 depthwise thereof as
indicated by the curve A in FIG. 5. Also in the case of similarly forming
the layer 5 on a fused quartz substrate of a relatively large sodium
content in the sodium-free reaction chamber, if the substrate has not been
cleaned, then sodium will be distributed in the layer 5, as indicated by
the curve B in FIG. 5. However, in the case of similarly forming the layer
5 on a synthetic quartz substrate of a very small sodium content through
the CVD method in the cleaned reaction chamber, the layer 5 will have such
a distribution of sodium as indicated by the curve C in FIG. 5.
Where the layer 5 has such a distribution of sodium as indicated by the
curve A in FIG. 5, it presents such photo-conductivity as plotted by
points A0, A2, A4 . . . and such dark conductivity as plotted by points
A0', A2', A4' . . . in FIG. 6. The points A0 and A0' shown the initial
photo-conductivity and dark conductivity of the layer 5. The points A2 and
A2' indicate photo-conductivity and dark conductivity after two hours of
irradiation of the layer 5 by light under Am1 radiation condition (100
mW/cm.sup.2) at room temperature. The points A4 and A4' show the
photo-conductivity and dark conductivity of the layer 5 heated at
150.degree. C. for two hours thereafter. The points A6 and A6', A8 and A8'
. . . show similar photo-conductivity and dark conductivity at respective
points of time.
Where the intrinsic layer 5 has the sodium distribution indicated by the
curve B in FIG. 5, it exhibits such photo-conductivity as plotted by
points B0, B2, B4, . . . corresponding to the above-mentioned A0, A2, A4,
. . . and such dark conductivity as plotted by points B0', B2', B4', . . .
corresponding to the above mentioned A0', A2', A4', . . . , in FIG. 6.
Where the intrinsic layer 5 has the sodium distribution indicated by the
curve C in FIG. 5, it presents such photo-conductivity as plotted by
points C0, C2, C4, . . . corresponding to the above-mentioned A0, A2, A4,
. . . and such dark conductivity as plotted by points C0', C2', C4', . . .
corresponding to the above-mentioned A0', A2', A4', . . . , in FIG. 6.
The values of photo-conductivity between the points A0 and A0', between A2
and A2', between A4 and A4', . . . , between the points B0 and B0',
between B2 and B2', between B4 and B4', . . . , and between C4 and C4', .
. . respectively show photo-sensitivity. Furthermore, the value of
photoconductivity A2 and A3, . . . , between the points B0 and B2, between
B2 and B3, and between the points C0 and C2, between C2 and C4, . . .
respectively show the deviation of the photo-conductivity.
Where the intrinsic layer 5 has such a sodium distribution as indicated by
the curve C in FIG. 5 according to the present invention, the
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive devices depicted in FIGS. 3 and
4 exhibits, relative to the wavelength of the incident light 8, such rated
quantum efficiencies as indicated by the curves D0, D2, and D4 in FIG. 7.
The curves D0, D2, and D4 respectively show rated quantum efficiencies in
the cases corresponding to those where the points A0 and A0', A2 and A2',
and A4 and A4' in FIG. 6 are obtained.
Where the intrinsic layer 5 has the sodium distribution indicated by the
curve A in FIG. 5 not according to the present invention, the
semiconductor photo-electrically-sensitive devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
present rated quantum efficiencies indicated by the curves E0, E2, and E4
in FIG. 8 respectively corresponding to the curves D0, D2, and D4 in FIG.
7.
In the above no reference is made to the distribution of oxygen in the
intrinsic layer 5, but when the layer 5 have oxygen distributions similar
to the sodium distributions described above in regard to FIG. 5, the same
results as referred to above in connection with FIGS. 6 to 8 can be
obtained.
As will be appreciated from the above, according to the present invention
the photo-sensitivity of the intrinsic layer 5 is very high and hardly
changes even if heating is carried out after the irradiation by light.
While the present invention has been described at being applied to the
semiconductor photoelectrically-sensitive device in which the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member has a PIN or NIP type
structure and, accordingly, it has formed therein one PIN or NIP junction,
the present invention is also applicable to such a semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device in which the non-single-crystal
semiconductor laminate member has an NI, PI, NIN or PIP type structure
and, accordingly, it has formed therein at least one NI, PI, NIN or PIP
junction.
Also the present invention is applicable to semiconductor
photo-electrically-sensitive device of the type in which the
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer member has, for example, an NIPIN
or PINIP type structure and, accordingly, it has formed therein at least
one PIN and NIP junction.
It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may be effected
without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present
invention.
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